The JSE Top40 index of blue chips gained 1.11 percent to 23 367.21 points, while the all share index rose 0.96 percent to 26 041.96 points.
"The market is trading positively from better-than-expected results (from mining shares)," said Abri du Plessis, the chief investment officer at Gryphon Asset Management.
Gold and platinum stocks were among the biggest gainers on the bourse as profits for African-focused producers were lifted by gold prices.
AngloGold Ashanti rose 2.84 percent to R281, Gold Fields was up 2.2 percent to R88.30 and Harmony Gold rose 0.71 percent to R72 after the company swung to a profit in the quarter to December.
Anglo Platinum forecast its markets would turn around this year - sending its shares soaring earlier in the session - helping to lift the Johannesburg's resource heavy index.
Shares in Anglo Platinum closed 6.54 percent higher at R733 after the mining company announced a rights issue to raise R12.5 billion to pay off its debt.
Anglo Platinum is the largest producer of the metal.
Impala Platinum, the second-largest producer of the metal, increased 0.1 percent to R183.50, paring an earlier gain of 5 percent.
Anglo American, the diversified mining company that makes up about 11 percent of the of South Africa's benchmark index, rose 1.4 percent to R276.41, paring earlier gains.
Copper for three-month delivery on the London Metal Exchange advanced as much as 3.1 percent. Prices of zinc, aluminium and lead also rose.
BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, added 1.7 percent to R222.
The telecoms sector was boosted by the positive market sentiment. Cellphone operators Vodacom and MTN increased 0.2 percent to R53.35 and 2.1 percent to R109.25 respectively.
Media company Naspers lost 2.3 percent to close at R259.